Choosing between two older video game strategy references can be like choosing between a deep dive and a treasure hunt. The SimCity: Prima Official Game Guide spends hundreds of pages on one game, while 3DO Games Secrets Book Two jumps across many 3DO games with hints and walkthroughs. Here's how to pick the right one for your shelf.
Quick Verdict
The SimCity: Prima Official Game Guide is the better all-around purchase for a player who wants a single, complete strategy reference and prefers a brand-new copy. It is a sealed trade paperback with 320 illustrated pages, and the guide's focus makes it a strong companion while building a city. The 3DO Games Secrets Book Two is the better purchase if you own a 3DO console and want a broader collection of secrets and tips across multiple titles. That guide is an older reference in good condition, so it is aimed more at the format's dedicated fans.
At a Glance
| Product | Listed Price | Condition | Format | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SimCity: Prima Official Game Guide | USD 10.95 | Brand New | Trade Paperback | SimCity |
| 3DO Games Secrets Book Two | USD 29.00 | Good | Trade Paperback | Multiple 3DO games |
Where Each Product Wins
SimCity: Prima Official Game Guide wins on condition and focus. The book is brand new and sealed, so collectors get a clean copy. Every page is devoted to SimCity, which makes it easier to follow than a multi-game guide.
3DO Games Secrets Book Two wins on breadth. It collects secrets, hints, tips, and walkthroughs for multiple 3DO games, making it a wider reference for console owners. It also brings together contributions from Zach Meston, J. Douglas Arnold, and Doug Arnold.
Product Notes
SimCity: Prima Official Game Guide
This is a sealed, brand-new copy of the SimCity Prima Official Game Guide by David Knight and Prima Games Staff. Published by DK Games in trade paperback, it runs 320 pages and includes illustrations to help you lay out zones, manage budgets, and handle disasters. Because it is specifically for SimCity, it can take you from beginner to competent city builder more efficiently than a multi-game compendium. The limitation is exactly that focus: if you play other simulation or strategy titles, this guide does nothing for them. It is also a 2003 guide, so it reflects the game as it shipped then. For a SimCity-focused player who wants the guide in brand-new condition, this is a tidy pick.
3DO Games Secrets Book Two
The 3DO Games Secrets Book Two brings something the SimCity guide does not: coverage of many 3DO titles in one volume. Written by Zach Meston, J. Douglas Arnold, and Doug Arnold, and published in 1996 by Sandwich Islands Publishing, this trade paperback collects secrets, hints, tips, and walkthroughs for a range of 3DO games. The condition is Good, which matters to a collector but not to someone who wants the information intact. The tradeoff is that you get breadth over depth; expect brief entries for many games rather than a single exhaustive strategy guide. For a 3DO owner, this one volume may cover several games you actually play.
Final Choice by Use Case
Choose the SimCity guide if you are playing SimCity and want a step-by-step resource in new condition. Choose the 3DO book if you have a 3DO or collect for the system and want a wide sampling of secrets and tips. For a first vintage purchase, the SimCity guide gives you a cleaner copy and a tighter experience.
